I don't think I'll be there till evening. My Dad is mates with a couple of United fans so we are going for a drink with them after the game (Rovers are at home), then I'll be going to my mates and he'll be driving there later on. Probably have our tea before setting off.

 

Hopefully I'll miss any trouble, and hopefully there won't be any.

Thinking more closely about it, there may well be problems around 2pm ish, as City fans without tickets find places to watch the final about the same time as Man Utd either win the title or get beat. I'm only speculating on trouble but even if there isn't I doubt there will be much security on by then!

 

Yoiks!:stunned:

 

Manchester United fans set to keep ‘ticker’ banner even if Manchester City end trophy drought with FA Cup win

 

Manchester United fans look set to stick with their famous ‘ticker’ banner even if their City rivals end their 35-year trophy drought this weekend. They claim their neighbours have bought their success, an accusation also levelled at United by City supporters.

 

City could finally pick up some silverware for the first time since 1976 when they face Stoke in the FA Cup final on Saturday, kicking off half an hour after United could secure a record 19th Premier League title at Blackburn.

 

The Old Trafford banner marking City’s trophy drought — it is moved on a year each Feb 28 to mark the date that the club won the League Cup — has become a focal point to derbies, which have increased in intensity since Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s takeover in 2008. On his arrival at Eastlands at the end of 2009, manager Roberto Mancini claimed that his priority was to pull the banner down and now that City, who beat United in the semi-finals last month, are just one game away from a trophy the debate is raging among United supporters about what to do if they win.

 

Andrew Kilduff, of Stretford End flags, says that there are no fixed plans but keeping the banner is an option. Any changes will be in place for the Blackpool game on the final day of the season. “It’ll stay up if they don’t win it and if they do, it might come down but there are lots of other options,” he said. “It could stay up to mark how long they hadn’t won a trophy, or to show that they’ve bought a trophy, rather than won one, and let it continue to tick, or we could rotate it to 43 years to mark when they last won the league. If City do win the FA Cup the first thing they’ll be asking is for that banner to come down. The players, managers, fans, they’re all obsessed by it and they talk about it much more than United supporters do.”

 

Neil Mitchell, secretary of the Rusholme and Moss Side branch of the City supporters’ club, is adamant that victory at Wembley would not be diluted by United winning the title but he resents the insinuation that City are the first club to push for honours because of their power in the transfer market. “I don’t think I need to quote all of the records on transfer fees that go all the way back to Bryan Robson, most expensive teenagers and defenders, all that,” Mitchell said.

 

“Chelsea have done it as well but it seems to be different because it’s us that have got a bit of dough. We’re buzzing at the moment but I’m not too sure about the other half because not many of them live here anyway.”

 

City’s Bredbury and South Manchester supporters’ club branch chairman Colin Hulme hopes that the ticker banner will be removed if they win the Cup. “They’ve played on it for a long time and if the result is in our favour I’d hope they’d take it down,” Hulme said. “I’d like to think they’d respect it if we win a trophy but, whatever they do, we’ll be happy if we win because it’s been a long time coming.”

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/8505430/Manchester-United-fans-set-to-keep-ticker-banner-even-if-Manchester-City-end-trophy-drought-with-FA-Cup-win.html

FA charge Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson for PRAISING referee Howard Webb

 

 

By Ian Ladyman

 

Last updated at 8:38 AM on 14th May 2011

 

 

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Sir Alex Ferguson has become the first manager to be charged by the FA for comments made about a referee in the run-up to a Barclays Premier League game.

 

The Manchester United manager was charged with improper conduct yesterday after talking about Howard Webb prior to last Sunday’s Premier League decider against Chelsea at Old Trafford.

 

 

Man in the middle: Ferguson reacted to the appointment of official Howard Webb before United's crunch clash with Chelsea at Old Trafford

 

 

Ferguson said his ‘big fear’ was that a mistake by Webb would influence the outcome of the match. The United boss - a fan of Webb - did also say the World Cup referee was the ‘best man for the job’ and the official went on to have an uneventful game as United moved to within a point of the title by winning 2-1.

However, the FA has decided Ferguson is in breach of guidelines saying managers should not speak about officials in advance of a game.

 

The Scot is likely to contest the charge. He has until 4pm on Monday to respond but if it is upheld he is expected to be fined or warned about his future conduct. He will not be given a touchline ban.

 

Last night Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed his surprise at the charge, saying: ‘He spoke positively about Howard Webb. He had a fantastic game without pressure. All the players had good behaviour. I’m surprised. I don’t think he tried to put pressure on the referee.’

 

 

Manin the stands: Ferguson has only recently served a five-match touchline ban for comments made about officials

 

 

 

Ferguson made his remarks after feeling United were treated badly by referee Chris Foy in losing 1-0 at Arsenal the week before the Chelsea game. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: ‘They are not used to him being complimentary — it was a shock to the FA! It doesn’t look very serious and he is entitled to have that opinion.’

 

In another unlikely move involving Sir Alex yesterday, the United manager gave Kenny Dalglish’s appointment as full-time Liverpool manager his seal of approval and tipped them to emerge as title challengers next season.Ferguson will finally fulfil his long-held ambition to ‘knock Liverpool off their perch’ if Manchester United take a point from today’s game at Blackburn and secure a record 19th League championship.

 

 

Storm: Ryan Babel was in hot water for posting this picture on Twitter

 

But he senses their fierce rivals could soon clamber back on it after rewarding Dalglish’s spectacular impact as caretaker boss with a long-term deal.

 

Ferguson said: ‘Liverpool will be galvanised next season, I am sure of that. Kenny has signed a three-year contract that settles the club down, and I am sure there will be plans to add to that.’

Man City Fan Enjoys A Premature Trophy Tattoo

 

By: chris | May 11th, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

This is seemingly something of a worrying fad, this ‘getting trophy tattoos before said trophy is actually won’. Borussia Dortmund at least had one hand on the trophy. The FA Cup? It’s a one-off game where anything can happen.

Granted, Man City are huge favorites and should win it, but that doesn’t make this gentleman any less of an absolute idiot.

This before considering the fact this man has a trophy tattoo based on a game in which he will play no part. And it’s a cup competition. Against Stoke with a kajillion dollar payroll. And I really have no idea what part Jesus is to play in this little victory, but you can be damn sure Citeh will try and snap him up this summer with Champions League football as the ever alluring carrot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Boy, is that guy going to look a tw*t if City fail to win.

 

On second thoughts, he's going to look a tw*t whatever the outcome of the match!:rolleyes:

Even if it turns out to be true, I'd sue the artist because that tattoo is all over the place!

Biggest fan fail of the season?:rolleyes:

@MirrorFootball City fan Rick Wakeman just had a pop at United fans for not coming from Manchester. Yes, that's Rick Wakeman from Perivale, London

 

:laugh3:

@MirrorFootball[/url] City fan Rick Wakeman just had a pop at United fans for not coming from Manchester. Yes, that's Rick Wakeman from Perivale, London

 

:laugh3:

 

He should stick to what he knows best.:dozey:

Blackburn 1-0 Man Utd

 

Utd's defence is all over the place! Maybe not the best game to rest Van der Sar for.

Blackburn 1-1 Man Utd (Rooney PEN 72)

At last! I couldn't believe United was about to allow only City fans to celebrate today.

19

 

Man Utd win record 19th title

 

Blackburn 1 - 1 Man Utd

 

A controversial Wayne Rooney penalty was enough to secure Manchester United's record-breaking 19th league title at Ewood Park.

 

The point was enough to clinch a 12th Premier League title for manager Sir Alex Ferguson on an afternoon of high drama at Blackburn.

 

United looked to be heading for defeat until Rovers keeper Paul Robinson was ruled to have brought down Javier Herndandez and the visitors were awarded a penalty.

 

Rooney kept his nerve to fire home the spot-kick and send United's army of supporters into a title frenzy.

 

Blackburn had taken a first-half lead through Brett Emerton after a mix-up in the United defence involving stand-in goalkeeper Thomas Kuszczak.

 

But Rooney's 73rd-minute equalising penalty was enough to spark scenes of celebration as United gained the point to take them beyond the challenge of Chelsea in the title race.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/9483868.stm

how the hell was it controversial!! it was as blatant as you get it!

 

anyways. is any network getting martin tyler's commentary of the fa cup final. just doesn't feel right without his voice accompanying the match.

It was a textbook penalty.

 

 

 

WOOOOHOOOO UNITED. :cheesy:!!

ESPN advertising ad-free FA Cup half time break. Major OG :lol: There was fuck all to talk about. Rather have the ads, thanks

I'll take the point thank you very much :)

United were poor till Fergie came off the bench and pressured the ref and they magically started getting a few more decisions.

Good point and they could have battered us though.

Toure

i thought the man utd blackburn game was a very evenly contested match. a draw seemed fitting.

 

looks like both major english trophies are going to manchester.

Yeah, I'm delighted with the point. And I'm glad United didn't press for a winner.

Bad results for us elsewhere though. Should be safe. Especially if West Ham beat Wigan tomorrow.

I'll be at the Champion's League final- and after today I feel it's going to be even more exciting to see them (hopefully) win. :wacky:.

 

 

Yeah, I thought both teams were really respectful towards the end, just letting each other play catch with the ball, not pressing to win on either side- they knew what they needed, and settled finely with a draw.

 

What a good game. :dance:!

Seen the penalty now, since I was at the game when it happened and didn't have the benefit of a replay (though I thought it was one).

I was right. Was a penalty.

Well done Man City for buying the FA Cup...

 

..3 years after Pompey purchased it :P

Daryl is probably in an alcoholic coma by now :lol: